In 1973 after producing 34 of an order for 40 Model DL500Gs (442 Class) for the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR), Australian licensee A.E. Goodwin collapsed. Comeng, located just down the road from A.E. Goodwin, quickly concluded an agreement with the Alco design rights holder MLW (Montreal Locomotive Works) and completed the final 6 locomotives, using Mitsubishi rather than GE electrical equipment.
When NSWGR call tenders for a further 40 2000HP locomotives, Comeng was successful in responding with its Model CE615 (CE for Commonwealth Engineering, 6 for six axles and 15 for 1490KW of power). These were allocated the 80 Class and were a much improved version of the last six DL500Gs it delivered. They were the first NSWGR diesels to feature air conditioned cabs, these cabs were isolated from the locomotive frame by rubber vibration reducing mountings and cab food coolers were installed. The first was delivered in 1978 and, after the order was extended to 50 locomotives, the last rolled out of Comeng’s Granville plant in 1983.
Because of air conditioning, they were initially allocated to the hot areas like the west but, after the 84 strong Clyde EMD 81 Class were introduced, could be found anywhere on the NSWGR main lines. Many were placed on short term lease in the early 2000s to National Rail until the NR Class were delivered, and 2 served for a year or so with BHP’s coal operation in Port Kembla. Silverton bought up many of the 80 Class as they were retired from PacNat service and, with the Silverton takeover by Alco Finance, some of these have been seen in the livery of Coote Industrial/Engenco.
In Disk #1 we will cover the 80 Class basic details internally and externally and view them in Sydney metropolitan and western coal field operations. Disk #2 will cover western/north western, south/south coast and NR interstate operations.
Approximate run time: 140 minutes.